Car sounds like its dragging something...

[extremetrek]

Hello again to all,

I swear they should make my problem threads a sticky just because I have to post a new one everyday and it would save a lot of time!

Here we go again, today I changed the plugs and wires in my car...the plugs went to some accel plugs from brothers and the wires are FRPP 9mm also from brothers. The install seemed to be a cake walk and only took about an hour, car started and sounded fine so we took off for a little test drive.

As soon as we put it in reverse and got out of the driveway the car got a wicked wicked shake, the whole car was just vibrating like crazy, it was like a giant massage chair. Took it down the road to run it a bit and it just got worse, the car revved up really high several times and the CEL came on and off quite a few times as well. As we continued driving it sounded like there was something dragging on the ground behind the car, a constant rattle tat tat, SUPER annoying, though nothing was actualy dragging. Took it back home and got the OBD I reader (best investment ever) and pulled the following code:

172- Heated O2 sensor indicates lean condition, right side.

Okay so by right side do they intend driver or passenger? After I turned the car off there was a lot of clicking noise (not the usual engine cooling sound) on the passenger side of the car. Is this a simple case of something having come unplugged during the install or does it have something to do with the plugs/wires? I noticed when I pulled the old plugs that they all (except 5) were showing too hot (can take pic if you'd like). I have often smelled fuel when I start my car so I always assumed I was running rich.

I am also having a hell of a time getting the car to idle right, I have done the whole checklist and this is why the cap/rotor/plugs/wires swap of late, seems to have made things worse. Any ideas???

 

[stangman1]

car

have you replaced the coolant sensor

 

[stangman1]

dragging

And for the dragging is your car lowered.

 

[extremetrek]

Coolant sensor? Don't think i've replace that and no the car isn't lowered.

The dragging sound is actualy coming from the EXHAUST I think, the strange clicking sound after the engine is off is coming from the back passenger side of the engine compartment, I am certainly not dragging anything.

 

[stangman1]

try replacing that will make your car run ritch

 

[ljinx23]

check your driveshaft for the, i believe it's the e-brake cable, rubbing on it pertaining to the dragging sound

 

[Mac-man]

did u by any chance get the plug wires mixed up? i dont know just a thought. what about the sensors u had to unplug on the pass side to get to the plugs...any of them still unplugged?

 

[HISSIN50]

did u by any chance get the plug wires mixed up? i dont know just a thought. what about the sensors u had to unplug on the pass side to get to the plugs...any of them still unplugged?

Even though it sounded fine while idling before leaving, this was my first thought too.

WHile doing codes, did you do a cylinder balance test? That will tell you if you are dropping a cylinder.

Good luck.

 

[extremetrek]

Didn't try the balance test, how do you do it? I know it was in the manual for the tester but its packed away as i am getting ready to get back to school.

I didn't remove any sensors on the passenger side to change the plugs, however, there was some hose, perhaps fuel line, there that I may have broke lose in my wrenching. I am certain that the plug wires are in the correct positions and the firing order is correct on the dizzy. Hopefully I just pulled something loose.

I also pulled a code 632 (I think) this is just the OD on/off switch thing right? I didn't take the time to cycle that switch. The strange thing is that while on the freeway the tranny wouldn't shift, it revved really super high and the shifts were sloppy and at odd intervals. Didn't think that plugs/wires would do this to my car.

I'll be sure to take more pics in the morning if it would be helpful, I am off to bed now, and up early (7am PDT) thanks for the help guys.

 

[GRGT1994]

You would know if you broke a fuel line loose!!

Double check the plug wires, and use a different reference source for the firing order (someone said that there is a missprint in the haynes manual - don't know if that's true)

But slow down a second on the other stuff that seems to be coming up here. Coolant sensor? Driveshaft? You changed your plugs and wires, then noticed this issue immediately afterward. I'd say the issue must be something with what you just did. Seems logical. So double and triple check everything you did, and make sure nothing is out of place or disconnected around where you worked (no vacuum lines displaced, connections dislodged, etc). Keep it simple and work from there. It probably is something simple.

BTW, if I had noticed the issue you describe, I definitely would NOT have kept driving it. I would have pulled right back in the driveway and start troubleshooting. You don't want to break something.

 

[extremetrek]

Okay after about 10 seconds I found this:

As you can see there is a small pink plastic hose wrapped in black insulator that goes absolutely nowhere...is this where its supposed to go or if not where does it go? I can't find another end to it so what is my engine missing?

Here's another picture just in case:

And yes, I know I shouldn't have driven it after I heard the first shake I guess I just hoped it would get better.....

 

[CManT1914]

That line is for your smog pump. In the picture I uploaded, you can see the ends that are supposed to connect together. This is causing a vacuum leak, and your CEL too.

 

[extremetrek]

Thank you very very much we found that and fixed it, car is running much better now it looks like we broke it during the swap, any idea why ford used such brittle materials here, or is it just because its old?

 

[CManT1914]

Thank you very very much we found that and fixed it, car is running much better now it looks like we broke it during the swap, any idea why ford used such brittle materials here, or is it just because its old?

It's just old. Vacuum lines tend to do that over time. Glad to hear you fixed it.